Hiking Bryce Canyon (Post # 41)

July 31

Our last time at Bryce Canyon, Utah, we did not get a chance to hike down into the canyon.  I told Paul before we left that I wanted to come back here and next time hike down.  I guess you could say it was on my bucket list.  Well, that "next time" came today! This morning we were at the shuttle stop at Ruby's Inn Campground to catch the bus that would take us into Bryce National Park.  I think this might be my favorite national park.  

 Absolutely amazing! 

 We started our hike at Sunset Point and took the Navajo Trail down into the canyon, about three quarters of a mile down.

 We hiked down (and I do mean down) the Navajo Trail to Queen's Garden and on to Sunrise Point.

This little guy was sitting on a boulder just before we got to Queen's Garden.  He had obviously been fed by other hikers because he was not afraid at all.  He just sat on the rock and looked like he was posing for anyone who wanted to take his picture, and many people did just that. He had a buddy too, but he wasn't as used to people as this on.

I'm about half way down the Navajo Trail in the picture to the right.  I'm in the middle of the picture by a tree with a burgundy shirt on.

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 We stopped for a break after about an hour and had our breakfast on the trail.  The picture above is our view from where we ate.  

 The columns standing all alone are called hoodoos. 

I know these are a lot of pictures, and Paul has put a lot on the More Photos link, too.  This place is just so beautiful and so special that it is hard to capture it all.  But we tried. We hiked about four miles, and I am tired.  But I'm so thankful that we were able to do it.   

This afternoon we're taking a tour bus around the park to most of the overlooks.  

So, more pictures of Bryce to come!

Salt Lake City to Bryce's Canyon, Utah (Post # 40)

July 30

This is a very lovely sight to see as we begin a new day!

This!  Not so much!  We had already decided to take a different route than we'd originally planned--we wanted a more scenic route.  I'd definitely like a more scenic route than this! I think the traffic is even more congested in the picture that Paul posted.

 When I first saw these windmills from a distance I thought it strange that they were down below the mountain instead of on top of it like most I've seen.  But as we got closer I saw a sign that read "high wind area".  The way the mountains were arranged it created sort of a wind tunnel through the gorge.

 We came across another Mormon temple out in the middle of nowhere, based on what was around it, anyway.  It was in a small town called Manti.

A Veterans' Memorial

 Our lunch spot for today on the Sevier River . . .

                                                        and surrounded by mountains.

Entering Red Canyon

Today's ride was very relaxing.  I love taking back roads whenever possible.  We didn't take any pictures when we got to Ruby's Inn RV Park.  We had a terribly unlevel site, and it took extra time getting set up.  Before Paul had finished leveling and hooking up, a storm came up.  We'll try to get some tomorrow.  It's turned much cooler, so maybe it won't be so hot for our hike in the morning.